I've finally decided to do something about my noisy PS3 as my music source downstairs. While it was cool to stream music, photos and video from my PC to my PS3, it's all a bit of a performance and an unnecessary waste of energy. In the spirit of DIY, I've been toying with an idea to make something to do the job for me. However, I've decided to buy something ready made this time around.
I've gone for a Western Digital Live 1080p Internet Media Streamer. This little box of tricks will playback my music, photo and video files from a USB connected external HDD. It suppports a respectable number of file formats (including .flac) and is small and discrete. It also has wired network capability allowing connection to various rubbish online sites but will also allow me to copy ripped files across my gigabit network from my PC. It also allows for online updates to the firmware (cool).
Western Digital Live 1080p Internet Media Streamer
This little box requires a telly to use as its display and connects via an HDMI lead. Audio is via an optical cable.
Clearly, the media streamer needs an external HDD or I'm back to having my PC on upstairs. So I got myself a Samsung Story 1.5TB external HDD. Don't know why really.....I usually go for Seagate drives....perhaps it was the low price or the nice case (with on/off switch). The bonus side effect of this approach is that I will have a further copy of my media on another HDD (two in my PC, one in my drawer at work and one downstairs). In my experience, you can't have enough copies of data, especially when it's pictures / videos of the kids!
Samsung Story 1.5TB external HDD
The WD Live 1080P cost me £96 and the Samsung Story £85 both from Amazon. They are due to arrive tomorrow [rubs hands in glee].
I've gone for a Western Digital Live 1080p Internet Media Streamer. This little box of tricks will playback my music, photo and video files from a USB connected external HDD. It suppports a respectable number of file formats (including .flac) and is small and discrete. It also has wired network capability allowing connection to various rubbish online sites but will also allow me to copy ripped files across my gigabit network from my PC. It also allows for online updates to the firmware (cool).
Western Digital Live 1080p Internet Media Streamer
This little box requires a telly to use as its display and connects via an HDMI lead. Audio is via an optical cable.
Clearly, the media streamer needs an external HDD or I'm back to having my PC on upstairs. So I got myself a Samsung Story 1.5TB external HDD. Don't know why really.....I usually go for Seagate drives....perhaps it was the low price or the nice case (with on/off switch). The bonus side effect of this approach is that I will have a further copy of my media on another HDD (two in my PC, one in my drawer at work and one downstairs). In my experience, you can't have enough copies of data, especially when it's pictures / videos of the kids!
Samsung Story 1.5TB external HDD
The WD Live 1080P cost me £96 and the Samsung Story £85 both from Amazon. They are due to arrive tomorrow [rubs hands in glee].